Arch support



July 10, 1928.

P. sAPERs-roN I. ARCH SUPPORT iled July 21. 1921l Patented July 10, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

PERRY SAPERSTON, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ARCH SUPPORT.

Application led July 21,

This invention relates to foot appliances,

such as arch supports and the like, worn on the interior of the shoe and receiving the pressure of the foot, and has for its primary aim the provision of novel and improved means for properly and comfortably supporting and sustaining in a normal manner the longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot, and to correct any tendency toward l0 arch distortion and thus prevent such ailments as those commonly known as flat feet, fallen arches, and more generally to make the feet more healthy and strong and thus materially contribute to the health and well- 5 being of the wearer.

l The presentinvention is designed .as 1mprovement and development of the principle set forth in U. S. Patent No. 1,320,364, wherein the paramount feature is the sup- 0 port of the transversal or metatarsal bones of the foot; the present invention embodying the foregoing feature together with a novel arrangement whereby the longitudinal arch of the foot is also properly supported'.

It is also an aim of the present invention to support the transverse and longitudinal.

arches of the foot so that the weight of the person when standing and the Shocks imparted in walking are evenly and properly distributed, thus preventing undue concentration of pressure or impact on isolated parts, relieving stra-in, correcting any tendency of the metatarsal-bones to drop out of articulation, and generally relieving and correcting the maladies commonly termed Mortons neuralgia` or rheumatism of the leg or foot.

A further aim of the invention is to so construct an arch support that its accidental displacement from proper position in the shoe is effectively prevented, at the same time affording a resilient support yfor t-lie articulated parts of the foot, the support to this end, being constructed preferably of soft leather and sponge rubber, the latter being provided throughout itsarea with a plurality of properly distributed air pockets which will maintain the resiliency of the rubber element for considerable time, even where great weight is continuously applied to the support, and serve to maintain the .the appended claims, taken aipon the external To this end the support comprises an insole' 1921. Serial No. 486,503.

support in proper position in the shoe. Other objects and advantages'of the present invention, together with a more concrete understanding o f my invention may be obtained from the following detailed ldescription and with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of an' arch supporter constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of a slightly modified form of arch support as shown in Figure 1, and in properposition in a shoe, in this case the right shoe.

. Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3 3 o-f Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, the line 3 3 being a longitudinal center line of the elevations making up the pad.

r Figure t is a transverse sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a shoe of any conventional construction is shown having the upper 11, sole 12, a-nd heel 13.

In this instance the signed to take care of al mild case of so-called fallen arch, but Where the metatarsal phalangeal articulation has dropped considerably', and therefore is constructed to correct this latter ailment and relieve the pressure plantar artery and nerve.

arch support is de- 14 of soft leather which is of proper shape to fit in the shoe and extending from t-he heel portion of t-he shoe to of t-he ball of the foot.

The supporting element proper comprises a body 15 of sponge rubber having a relatively thick medial portion 16, lying beneath the longitudinal arch of the foot, and taper'- ing transversely and longitudinally to conform to and properly support the longitudinal arch of the foot, the front portion 17 thereof being relatively thick and lying below the metatarsal phalangeal articulation, and so shaped in longitudinal and cross section as to raise the transversal arch into proper place, thus relieving the cramped position of this joint and removing the presa point just forward sure from the external plantar nerve. 'Ihe heel portion 18 is of such transverse and longitudinal section as to properly support the heel inl its relation to the arch. In some cases it may be desirable to eliminate the heel portion, that is, in so far as its having any function, or it may be desirable to vary the depth of this portion, I considering such changes as well within the scope of the invention.

As will be observed from an inspection of Figure 4, the medial or longitudinal arch section of the support is adapted, when so required, to lit the shoe as at 19, extending part way up along the upper 11 of the shoe. In order that the utmost flexibility of the support may be had the rubber portion thereof is provided throughout its area with a plurality of properly distributed and downwardly opening recesses 20, forming air pockets, it being seen from Figure 1, that the medial longitudinal arch supporting portionA 16 of the rubber is provided with three rows of pockets, the units of which are relatively staggered and in proper curved relation, so as to properly take hold of the shoe sole when in use. The portion 17 is provided with nine properly positioned pockets, and the heel portion is similarly pocketed. The pockets or recess 2O are of various depths corresponding to the part of the arch beneath which they lie. Of course, I consider it entirely within the scope and purpose of my invention to vary the number and relation of the pockets to suit the particular case under treatment.

The pockets 20 are preferably arranged on and symmetrical to the center line 3 3, Figure 1, which approximately defines the elevation of the pad along the longitudinal line conforming to the longitudinal arch of the foot. The center line 3 3 is thus composed of straight line portions, disposed angularly to each other, and the elevation designated 17 supporting the transverse arch of the' foot is disposed angularly to the medial portion 16 supporting the longitudinal arch, to conform to the angular relation between the lfnettatarsal and longitudinal arches of the As will be observed from Figure 3 the rubber support tapers throughout so that it is relatively thin immediately adjacent the edges, and in order that these edges and the material adjacent thereto may have a large degree of flexibility independently of the leather. insole 14, the latter, adjacent its edges, 1s tapered, as at 21, this best appear- 111g in Figures 2 and 3. As will be seen in 'Figure 2, the forward edge of the insole 14, may overlie the conventional shoe sole t0 thereby provide a substantially -unbroken surface upon which the foot is adapted to rest. This overlying feature is not absolutely necessary to the invention and is therefore not indicated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

It will be understood that many variations are possible for treating feet of diHerent normal shapes or having maladies of diHerent severity. For instance, the depth of the elevations underlying either the longitudlnal or transverse arch may be increased or lessened thereby to concentrate the corrective function of the elevations in accordance with the individual case being treated.

From the foregoing it will appear that the arch support of my invention provides an elevation for properly supporting the longitudinal arch of the foot, and another elevation for supporting the transverse or metatarsal articulation just forward of the ball of the foot. The softor sponge rubber construction and the air pockets insure a firm yet yieldable sustaining means for the particular parts of the foot under treatment, and this, while afording proper support, at the same time permits flexing of the foot and muscles, articulation'of the joints thereof and other movements necessary both lto the proper correction of the foot ailments mentioned and comfort of the wearer. The device of my invention is not intended to rigidly support the arches of the foot, because While such treatment of the same may cause temporary relief, there is practically no correction because the muscles and joints under such treatment would not be properly exercised, and would soon become again displaced upon cessation of the treatment or removal of the rigid arch support. It is in this feature of my invention that it greatly diers from the prior art.

Changes in the form, shape and other minor details are, of course, contemplated' without material departure from the i11- vention as described here, and within the scope of the claims.

I claim: l

1. In combination, a flexible insole and a flexible and resilient body of material secured to one surface of said insole and substantially co-extensive therewith, said body having two distinct elevations merging into each other and adapted to conform to the longitudinal arch and the transverse metatarsal arch of the human foot in normal relationship, the longitudinal center lines of said elevations having such an angular relation that the elevations underlie the said longitudinal and transverse metatarsal arches.

2. A supporting body comprising an insole extending from the heel to the forward edge of the ball of the foot, and a resilient pad secured to the under side of said insole, said pad being of gradually increasing thickness from the portion underlying the heel to afford an elevation supporting the longitudinal arch, and decreasing in thickness to an elevation supporting the metatarsal phalangealarticulation, the longitudinal center lines of said various depths corresponding to the part of' elevations having such an angular relation the arch beneath winch they lie. that the elevations underlie and conform to In testimony whereof, I ax my Isigna 10 the said longitudinal arch and the said metature at 36 W. Randolph St., Chicago, Illi 5 arsal phalangeal articulation, said pad havnois. y

ing a plurality of downwardly opening recesscs arranged throughout the pad and of DR. PERRY SAPERSTON. 

